Top 8: Chutney and relish options for the perfect summer sandwich

Irish Examiner

16-05-2025

Ballymaloe Relish 310g €3.95
White wine vinegar, sugar, onions, sultanas, tomato purée, sea salt, mustard seed, and spices are added to a tomato base. This is a good, flavourful relish with a pleasant aftertaste. It is a top favourite with tasters. It is also available in a plastic squeezy bottle version (350g €3.89—handy for picnics). It is very good in sandwiches and gives a lift to a dull stew. Made in Cork.
Score: 9.5
Aldi Ploughman's Chutney 300g €1.89
Aldi Specially Selected Ploughman's Chutney: Picture Chani Anderson
Another top marker, and at a very reasonable price, this mix of onions, tomatoes, Bramley apples, brown sugar, red peppers, good-quality sultanas, and two types of vinegar gave us just what we expect of a ploughman's chutney. It has a decent kick with some sweetness and a chunky and pulpy substance to take cheese, a pie, a tranche of ham, paté, and hard-boiled eggs. It is not runny, making it easy to handle for picnics.
Score: 9.5
Aldi Mango chutney 300g €1.89
Aldi Specially Selected Mango Chutney: Picture Chani Anderson
Tasters liked this more than most mango chutneys we tested, which are a delicious accompaniment to spicy curries. The mango flavour came through best here and there are flecks of back onion seed which don't add flavour but look interesting. Garlic purée adds depth and the white wine vinegar is not overpowering. A pleasant, well balanced chutney, even nice on baguette. Good value.
Score: 9
Geeta's Lime & Chilli Chutney 230g €2.59
Geeta's Premium Lime & Chili Chutney: Picture Chani Anderson
This is the only exception to our Irish-only lineup. Made in India, we tested it because a tester who is an experienced traveller recommended it. Others found it a little too tart, but our traveller convinced us the flavours were genuine, and we had to agree we could taste the lime easily through the chilli. Not for the fainthearted. Delicious with poppadums.
Score: 8
Folláin Chargrilled Red Pepper Relish 320g €3.19
Folláin Chargrilled Red Pepper Relish: Picture Chani Anderson
Nicely roasted, flavoursome red peppers, grape juice, tomatoes, onions, and white wine vinegar blend well together here, with a minor chunkiness, balanced well with a generous dash of mustard seeds, spices, garlic, and salt. A dynamic lift to a ham sandwich.
Score: 8.75
SuperValu Signature tastes Apple & Plum Chutney 300g €1.99
SuperValu Signature Tastes Apple & Plum Chutney: Picture Chani Anderson
Apples, sugar, plums, white wine vinegar, onions, sultanas, blend well with mustard seeds, spices, and salt. The vinegar overpowers the plum taste, but most tasters liked the slightly chunky texture and the hit of spices. Made by the Leonard family in West Cork.
Score: 8
Eves Leaves Piccalilli Relish 250g €4.95
Eves Leaves Piccalilli Relish: Picture Chani Anderson
Piccalilli is a mix of chunks of vegetables cooked in vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard and turmeric (which gives it its distinctive yellow/orange colour). The sauce, thickened with cornflour, is smooth and the vegetables (here, courgette, cauliflower, onion) have kept a little bite. Good on the side with a simple meat or vegetable salad, or try with grilled mackerel. Made in Caherciveen, Co Kerry. We bought at Roughty Foodie, the English Market, Cork.
Score: 8
Gran Grans Beetroot, red onion & ginger chutney 200g €4.50
Gran Gran's Foods Beetroot, Red Onion & Ginger Chutney: Picture Chani Anderson
Bramley apple, beetroot, red onion, combine with sugar, distilled vinegar, ginger, vegetable oil, and salt. A nice, natural texture here, but taste-wise, a little too mild for cold meats – not quite enough ginger for interest for most tasters. However, as suggested on the jar, good to add to a quiche mixture or hummus. Made in Co Galway, we bought in Bradleys, Cork, which has a good selection.
Score: 7.5
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